Wind Turbine Funnel

ABSTRACT

The wind turbine funnel includes a frame rotatably mounted to support about a rotational axis. The frame includes an inlet having a funnel directing incoming wind towards a turbine wheel disposed adjacent the funnel. The funnel includes an angled upper, main deflector and an optional, angled lower deflector disposed between side panels. The turbine wheel includes a plurality of curved wind blades radiating from the axis of the wheel. The blades are configured to maximize conversion of the wind energy into rotational force for the wheel. The center of gravity of the frame and turbine is disposed behind the rotational axis to permit free rotational adjustment of the frame with respect to wind direction with minimal force. The side panels may include raised sections that function as a rudder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/344,329, filed on Jun. 15, 2010. The entire contents of the foregoing provisional application are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The current consumption of energy resources is on the rise every year due to ever increasing consumer and industrial demands. The power industry must consume more conventional fuels, such as oil, and coal and nuclear energy, to meet these demands. In the process, they produce more waste that can have a negative impact on the environment. Moreover, fossil fuels are a finite commodity that can be depleted. In the process of converting fuels to usable energy, they produce tons of hazardous chemicals dangerous to dispose of without strict regulation. Nuclear fuels, such as uranium and plutonium, have the potential to produce vast amount of usable energy from a relatively small amount of fuel. However, nuclear reactors product radioactive wastes that take decades to decay, and must be buried in special containment facilities. Due to some of the disadvantages noted above, a need exists to pursue alternative sources of energy.

Several different alternate methods for generating usable energy have been proposed, and they mostly involve harnessing the power of the elements such as from sun, wind and water. One of the solutions resides in windmills that convert wind energy to electricity. Conventional windmill generators include a fan mounted to a generator pod atop an elongate pole. The blades on the fan are usually very long and aerodynamically shaped to maximize the motive force from the wind, i.e., they are designed to convert the wind energy to rotational energy for turning the fan and a generator with minimal effort. However, these conventional windmill generators usually require favorable climates to be viable, and they cannot be easily installed on homes or buildings. In addition, they pose a hazard to birds flying nearby.

Another variant is a wind turbine mounted inside an enclosed housing that funnels air into the turbine. The housing is mounted to an annular track, which pivots thereon to orient the housing in the direction of the wind. The interior of the housing also includes a breaker at the inlet that splits the wind stream towards the turbine. While functional, the complexity and bulk of such a device do not permit easy reorientation or maximal use of wind energy. In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide a device that can maximize conversion of wind power to usable energy in a wide variety of locales. Thus, a wind turbine funnel solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The wind turbine funnel of the present invention includes a frame mounted to a support for rotational support about an axis. The frame includes an inlet having a funnel directing incoming wind towards a turbine wheel disposed adjacent the funnel. The funnel includes an angled upper deflector and, optionally, an angled lower deflector disposed between side panels. The turbine wheel includes a plurality of curved wind blades radiating from the axis of the wheel. The blades are configured to maximize the force of wind against the turbine blades to turn the wheel. The center of gravity of the frame and turbine is disposed behind the rotational axis to permit free rotational adjustment of the frame with respect to wind direction with minimal force. The side panels may include raised sections that function as a rudder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the present invention will become apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wind turbine funnel according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wind turbine funnel invention depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the turbine wheel portion of the wind turbine funnel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the wind turbine funnel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a stack of the wind turbine funnels of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a wind turbine funnel according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a wind turbine funnel, generally referred to in the drawings by reference numeral 10, for maximizing conversion of wind power to usable electrical energy. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the wind turbine funnel 10 includes a housing or frame 20 rotatably mounted to a support 40. The frame 20 is freely rotatable about the support 40 to adjust itself in response to changes in wind direction.

Thus, the frame orients itself so that its front faces the wind, somewhat like a wind sock. The frame 20 includes a pair of side panels 22 that rotatably support the shaft of a turbine wheel 30 on bearings (not shown). Rotation of the turbine wheel 30 can turn a generator, produce energy, which can be consumed locally or transmitted to a local power grid, the details of which will be further discussed below. Each side panel 22 may be an elongate, substantially rectangular board having an arcuate segment 25 at the front and an upwardly projecting segment at the back 28. When assembled, the front of the side panels form part of an inlet, as indicated by wind direction 12, and the back of the side panels forms an outlet 17, as indicated by wind direction 14. The upwardly projecting segments form rudders 28. The rudders 28 assist turning the frame 20 into the direction of the wind. As a result, the rudders 28 may be fin shaped.

The inlet side of the frame 22 includes an angled upper deflector 24 disposed at the upper part of the inlet side between the two side panels 22. The inlet side may optionally also include an angled lower deflector 26 when additional deflection may be needed, or as desired by the user. The deflectors 24, 26, along with the arcuate segments 25 of the side panels 22, form a funnel directing the wind towards the turbine wheel 30 to rotate the same. The upper deflector 24 extends on a steep incline from the top 27 of the frame 22. Preferably, the angle of incline ranges between about 30 and 50°, with about 40° to 45° preferred, and about 42° most preferred. When used, the lower deflector 26 should have a similar angle with the horizontal defined by the longitudinal axis. The upper deflector 24 is positioned to leave a small gap 29 between the turbine wheel 30 and the edge of the upper deflector 24, which permits the turbine wheel 30 to rotate without structural interference, as shown in FIG. 4. Moreover, the upper portion of the upper deflector 24 is preferably disposed at a height equal to or greater than the height of the turbine wheel 30 to minimize or eliminate potential drag on the wind blades 36 as the blades 36 rotate back toward the funnel area, i.e. the return portion of the rotation cycle for the blades 36. At this height, the upper deflector 24 deflects the wind away from the path of the returning blades 36. The main deflector 24 is preferably larger dimensioned that the lower deflector 26 in order to effectively direct the wind towards the wing blades 36 and assure that the turbine wheel 30 rotates in the correct direction. When the lower deflector 26 is used, the lower deflector 26 assists in focusing the funneled air towards the blades 36. In addition, the large upper deflector 24 and stationary enclosure of the wind turbine funnel appears to be visible to birds and other flying objects, and helps to avoid the accidents and collisions that occur with conventional windmills.

As shown in FIG. 3, the turbine wheel 30 includes endcaps 32 on opposite ends of a shaft 31 where a central rotational axis is defined. Each endcap 32 is preferably made from strong, lightweight and aerodynamic materials such as a lightweight alloy, fiberglass or a fiber reinforced plastic, to support the wing blades 36 and efficiently deliver wind thereto.

The plurality of wing blades 36 extend radially from the central axis. Each wing blade 36 is arcuate or curved and includes a lip 37 extending tangentially at the distal end of the blade 36 from the central axis. This shape and configuration of the blade 36 creates a catch or pocket for the incoming wind so that the force thereof can be efficiently translated to rotary power for the turbine wheel 30. Compared to a flat surface, the curved surface of the blade 36 inclusive of the surface of the lip 37 has a larger surface area that can block the wind for a given velocity within the confines of a given radial length. As a result, more wind force is acting on the curved blade 36 compared to a flat blade that can fit within the same radial dimension on the turbine wheel 30. Thus, the wing blades 36 maximize conversion of the wind energy to rotary power for the turbine wheel 30.

One or both ends of the turbine wheel 30 include a generator assembly 38, that may be driven directly by the shaft of the turbine wheel 30 or may be gear or belt driven (not shown). The generator 38 includes a rotor that converts the rotational energy from the turbine wheel 30 into electricity in substantially the same manner as in windmill generators. The electricity can then be transmitted through wires to a home, building or a local power grid.

The wind turbine funnel 10 is preferably installed atop a building B, a tower, or a pole, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The frame 20 is mounted to the support 40 and freely rotatable thereon. The support 40 includes a main post 42 disposed near the front portion of the frame 20 and at least one support arm 44 extending from the post 42 to brace the bottom of the frame 20. As an alternative, the support 40 may include a large, sturdy base that does not require support arm(s) 44. When mounted, the turbine wheel 30 is offset from the longitudinal axis of the post 42, which results in the center of mass along being offset from the post 42. In this manner, any wind from a given direction acting on the wind turbine funnel 10 forces the same to rotate into the direction of the wind with minimal force because the offset center of mass creates a lever to facilitate the self-adjustment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the incoming wind 15 is funneled and deflected by the upper main deflector 24, the optional lower deflector 26, and the side panels 22 towards the blades 36 at the lower half of the turbine 30, i.e., the area where rotational power is being generated. The incoming wind get accelerated by the deflectors 24, 26. This, in turn, rotates the turbine wheel 30 in the direction 16 as the wind passes through the wind turbine funnel 10 towards the outlet as indicated by arrows 17. The height of the main deflector 24 also deflects wind away from the upper portion of the turbine 30 to minimize any potential drag on the blades 36 during their return cycle. Cable or wire may be attached from the generator 38 to the post 42 as one of several ways of transmitting generated power.

In preliminary tests of a wind turbine tunnel in accordance with the present invention, applicant obtained measurements that a significantly higher number of revolutions per minute compared to a similar turbine wheel without the wind tunnel, possibly by eliminating drag on the return blade. This in turn translates to a greater amount of electricity being generated by the generator. The upper deflector helps to accelerate the wind as it moves towards the turbine blades. Also, providing a rotatable or swivel mount and locating the turbine behind the center of gravity allows the unit to rotate in the direction of incoming wind, similar to a wind sock increasing the amount of wind entering the inlet. The smaller size allows placement in many more locations, and permits stacking a number of turbines to maximize energy production in a given volume of space. Thus, the present invention provides a number of advantages over other available wind driven energy generators.

FIG. 5 illustrates a stacking of the arrangement for a plurality of wind turbine funnels 10, where they are mounted on a pole or tower using baffles 80 between adjacent devices. Their relatively small size allows a number of them to be stacked vertically to generate as much energy as possible in a windy area.

Referring to FIG. 6, this drawing shows an alternative embodiment of the wind turbine funnel, generally referred to in the drawings by reference numeral 100. The wind turbine funnel 100 is adapted more for applications where weight and/or size may be a concern. In this embodiment, the wind turbine funnel 100 is substantially the same as the previous wind turbine funnel 10 except for the frame 120. The frame 120 includes side panels 122 shorter in length than the side panels 22. The side panels 122 may be shaped as a substantially arcuate segment having a top beveled edge supporting a top deflector 125. The configuration results in a more compact form, and the top deflector 125 helps to deflect incoming wind away from the blades 36 during their return cycle, which minimizes any potential draft thereon. Although the side panels 122 lack a rear projection that serves as a rudder, the arcuate shape of the side panels 122 function as rudders in a compact form. The upper main deflector 124 and the optional lower deflector 126 are disposed between the side panels 122.

In all other respects, the wind turbine funnel 100 functions similarly to the wind turbine funnel 10. As shown in FIG. 6, incoming wind 115 is funneled and deflected by the upper deflector 124, the optional lower deflector 126, and the side panels 122 toward the blades 36. This, in turn, rotates the turbine wheel 30 in the direction 116 as the wind passes through the wind turbine funnel 100 towards the outlet as indicated by arrows 117. Cables or Wires may be attached from the generator 38 to the post 42 as one of several ways of transmitting generated power.

It is to be understood that the wind turbine funnel 10, 100 encompasses a variety of alternatives. For example, the turbine wheel 30 may be configured with more or less than the three blades 36 shown in the drawings. Moreover, the curvature thereof may be increased or decreased as desired by the user to maximize capture of the wind depending on the climate variables. The wind turbine funnel 10, 100 is preferably made from durable, lightweight and weather-resistant materials such as fiberglass, wood, aluminum, metals, plastics, alloys, composites, and/or combination thereof. The wind turbine funnel 10, 100 may also be configured in a variety of different sizes as desired by the user. Moreover, the wind turbine funnel 10, 100 may be used as a single unit or a plurality of units stacked and installed on a home, building, cell phone, wind farm or power line tower, or a mountain.

As a person of ordinary skill would understand, the present invention provides several advantages over prior devices: first, it diverts the energy that would otherwise hit the back of the blades; second, it increases the energy into the generating blades by collecting the energy from the returning blades; and third, it places the majority of the device behind the center of gravity which helps to eliminate the need for a yaw motor to keep the device aimed at the wind.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A wind turbine funnel, comprising: a frame rotatably mounted to a support, the frame having a pair of side panels, an inlet side and an outlet side, a bottom and an open top; a rotatable turbine wheel disposed between the side panels, the turbine wheel having a shaft and a plurality of curved turbine blades extending radially from the shaft, the wheel having a pair of endcaps disposed on opposite ends of the shaft, the wing blades having a lip extending tangentially at a distal end from the shaft, the turbine blades configured to maximize conversion of the wind energy into rotary power for the turbine wheel; an upper deflector extending at a steep angle towards the turbine wheel from the top of the frame, the upper deflector being disposed between the side panels to form a funnel on the inlet side; and a generator assembly attached to at least one end of the shaft, the generator assembly converting rotary motion of the turbine wheel into electrical energy; wherein the funnel directs wind to maximize forces acting on the wing blades for a given wind velocity to thereby rotate the turbine wheel.
 2. A wind turbine funnel according to claim 1 additionally comprising a lower deflector extending from the bottom of the frame towards the turbine wheel, the lower deflector being disposed between the side panels to assist funneling wind towards the turbine wheel.
 3. A wind turbine funnel according to claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the upper deflector and the horizontal is from about 30° to about 50°.
 4. A wind turbine funnel according to claim 1 wherein the angle formed by the upper deflector and the horizontal is from about 40° to about 45°.
 5. A wind turbine funnel comprising: a frame defining a wind tunnel, the frame having a pair of spaced apart upright sides, each side having an arcuate front end defining a wind inlet, a segment narrowing toward an elongated middle portion and expanding to a rear portion substantially wider than the middle portion, the rear portion defining a wind outlet; an upper deflector extending downward from a front end of the frame to an upper edge of the elongated middle portion between the two sides of the frame; a lower deflector extending upward from a front lower edge of the front end of the frame to a lower edge of the lower middle portion of the frame, the upper and lower deflectors defining a funnel therebetween for wind to pass through; a rotatable turbine wheel disposed between the side panels, the turbine wheel having a shaft and a plurality of curved turbine blades extending radially from the shaft, the wheel having a pair of endcaps disposed on opposite ends of the shaft, the wing blades having a lip extending tangentially at a distal end from the shaft, the turbine blades configured to maximize conversion of the wind energy into rotary power for the turbine wheel; a generator connected to the turbine wheel for rotational movement when the turbine wheel rotates; whereby the funnel directs wind toward the turbine blades.
 6. A wind turbine funnel according to claim 5 wherein the angle formed by the upper deflector and the horizontal is from about 30° to about 50°.
 7. A wind turbine funnel according to claim 5 wherein the angle formed by the upper deflector and the horizontal is from about 40° to about 45°. 